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Handout Internal Family Systems Model
Handout Internal Family Systems Model
Overview
TALKING POINTS
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IFS BASIC
S e lf - inte rn a lize d , e m b o d ie d
state o f ca lm , w itn e ssin g ASSUMPTIONS
M u ltip licity - m a d e u p o f
su b p e rso n a litie s ca lle d Pa rts
Self…..
◦ Our essence, soul, inner voice, inner knowing;
buddha nature; embodied; spiritual
◦ IFS: clients felt ‘more like themselves’
◦ Inborn and released, not acquired
◦ Self and addictive process; desire to be whole;
feel better; inner voice (even when ‘high’);
◦ Pause; Available in moments
Self….Revealed
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• Escape/Soothe
• Stabilize/Improve
• Present-oriented
• Future-oriented
• Proactive SELF •
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Reactive
Reject/Concealed
• Over-identified
• Absorb Energy
• Past-oriented
Exiles • Overwhelming
• Repress/Ignore
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Managers:
Functional, Stressed, Striving
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Firefighters/Distractors/Soothers
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Firefighters/Distractors
…whatever it takes
Often dismissed, reviled; don’t care; heroic, defiant, ‘take bullet’ for
system; adolescent energy
Positive Intentions: medicate and balance
Protecting the system: Put out exile’s emotional fires
Balancing the system: shifts gears to balance
manager/exiles energy ; promote rest, relaxation,
pleasure, fun, lightness, play, sweetness; adventure
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Pain Medication
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“ Pain in Isolation”
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PA RTS IN D E V E LO PM E N T
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TRADITIONAL DEFINITIONS
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Core Indicators
Impulsive
Done without thinking: “ It just happened…”
Compulsive
No choice anymore: “I had to…”
Ignore Consequences
Disdain or Denial of Risk and Costs
“Nothing else matters…”
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Firefighter/SootherQualities
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P O L A R IZAT IO N : T H E BAT T L E F IE L D
BLAME FLAME
E X IL E
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Paradigm Shift :
Judgment or Compassion?
Never an Excuse……
Always a Reason
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Key Managers
◦ Caretaker-self-sacrifice own needs; focus on
fixing other’s inner world
◦ Controller-one right way (mine!)
◦ Perfectionist- cannot make a mistake
◦ Critic- only see what’s wrong
◦ Judge: shames and evaluates everything:
Nover good enoughcan’t win!
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Community
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IFS Advantage
After extended using of substances and practices brain is altered
Initiative and attachment are impaired
Pre-frontal cortex-judgment and decision-making
Choice : impaired
“Brain, impaired organ, needs to initiate its own healing process….”
IFS: Building self – to – part connections =
accessing mind to heal the brain
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Polarizations
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Polarizations
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Common Polarities
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Working with
polarizations
Boat at Sea: Delicate balance with Self at helm.
Any part moves or changes causes everyone to be unsteady.
Connect to Self to reassure and create smooth sailing.
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Transcendence
Dissociation
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U S IN G S P EC T U M : C H O IC E , R IS K , AWA R E N ES S
Dissociation Transcend
F LO O D E D BLENDED S E L F -L E D SELF
CHRONIC USE Frequent Heavy Use Regular Use Occasional Use Spiritual
LIT TLE/NO CHOICE high risk/less choice less risk/some choice full choice or ceremonial use
very high risk high consequences medium consequences few consequences
chronic direct access/insight insight/direct access insight
consequences
direct access
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What is tracking? ……
Identifying Inner Sequences, Finding Pattern
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Transitions: Ask
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Compassion
for Difficult UNBLEND
Managers believe they are the Self
Managers BE CURIOUS
Can you feel it now? What qualities?
What are its thoughts? Any negative
attitudes?
PROVIDE COMPASSION
""You are working so hard!"
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Mini-Unblend
◦ Useful esp in beginning to offer new experience with less stress, slows
process down
◦ Helpful if client intellectualizes, fears inner world or body focus, can’t
’stay inside’ for long periods
◦ Offers template for appreciation and awareness
Pause
Let’s just pause, that was so important, helpful…
Breathe
Let’s take a breath together…
Notice
What is coming up as your talk about this, what are you noticing or
aware of right now??
Connect
Can you connect to that part, show it you notice it?
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Exiles / Despair
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A relationship
attachment, connection
they long for love and care
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IFS Advantage
After extended using of substances and practices brain is altered
Initiative and attachment are impaired
Pre-frontal cortex-judgment and decision-making = Choice : impaired
“Brain, impaired organ, needs to initiate its own healing process….”
IFS: Building self – to – part connections = accessing mind to heal the
brain
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" J u st l i ke w i t h ex te r n a l e co l o g i e s ,
c h a n ge s i n o n e a s p e c t ca n h ave
u n fo re s e e n co n s e q u e n c e s . T h i s i s Traumatized inner systems
fa r l e s s l i ke l y, h o w e ve r, i f yo u t h i n k are delicate ecologies.
i n te r m s o f syste m s - - t h e n t h e
co n s e q u e n c e s o f te n ca n b e
fo re s e e n a n d p re e m p te d o r d e a l t
w i t h f ro m S e l f "
"NO BAD PARTS" RICHARD SCHWARTZ
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Overview of Model
◦ Create connection; external constraints
◦ Reflect client narrative as “parts”
◦ Vision for therapy
◦ Learn about protectors; track system
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" J u st l i ke w i t h ex te r n a l e co l o g i e s ,
c h a n ge s i n o n e a s p e c t ca n h ave
u n fo re s e e n co n s e q u e n c e s . T h i s i s Traumatized inner systems
fa r l e s s l i ke l y, h o w e ve r, i f yo u t h i n k are delicate ecologies.
i n te r m s o f syste m s - - t h e n t h e
co n s e q u e n c e s o f te n ca n b e
fo re s e e n a n d p re e m p te d o r d e a l t
w i t h f ro m S e l f "
"NO BAD PARTS" RICHARD SCHWARTZ
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Managers Firefighter
/Soother
SELF
One-way
Client identifies parts
Two-way
Client builds self to part
rel’ship
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Unburdened parts
pick new roles, adopt new
qualities
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SELF TO PART
HEART TO HEART
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Treatment Considerations
Recovery is a process, not an event.
Expect ups and downs, slow progress, slips, etc.
For clients mandated to therapy, they may have to develop own reason for
being there, might differ from other people's reason for them being there.
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Bibliography
◦ Sykes, C.C., Sweezy, M., Schwartz, R.C., (2023) Internal Family
Systems Treatment for Addictions; Trauma-Informed Compassion-
Based Interventions for Substances, Eating, Gambling and More.
PESI Publications.
◦ Schwartz, R.C., Sweezy, M. (2020). Internal Family Systems Therapy,
2nd Edition; New York. NY; Guilford Press
◦ Anderson, F., Sweezy, M., Schwartz, R.C. (2018) Internal Family
Systems, Skills Training Manual. PESI Publications
◦ Sykes, C.C. (2016) “An IFS Lens on Addiction: Compassion for
Extreme Parts,” in Sweezy, M. & Ziskind, E.L. (Eds), IFS Innovations
and Elaborations; New York, NY; Routledge
◦ Sykes, C.C. (2001) “Why I Love My Firefighters,” Self to Self IFSA
Journal, Vol.5 No. 6.
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